Sen. Bob Dole, the current GOP leader in the presidential race, rushed through Utah Monday, picking up a late endorsement by Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt and attending a legislative reception before heading out for the real reason for his visit - a $1,000-a-plate fund-raising dinner.
Leavitt is the 21st GOP governor (out of 31) to endorse Dole. A bit late, as Leavitt joked at the start of an afternoon press conference. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, was an early supporter of Dole and said Leavitt felt he had to wait before endorsing any Republican presidential candidate because Leavitt was chair of the National Republican Governors' Association.Dole also met privately Monday with the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Dole said he feels good about his presidential race going into the Iowa Republican Party caucuses, now just 26 days away. He's running even in Texas, home of fellow GOP presidential candidate Sen. Phil Gramm. "That says something about one of us" in Texas. "I'm not sure which one."
Asked if he's talked to former Gen. Colin Powell about becoming his vice presidential running mate, Dole said no. "I've spoken with him about Bosnia, I respect his opinion" on world matters. But Dole said he hasn't won the nomination yet, and so it's too early to be talking about running mates.
When a reporter shouted, "What about Mike Leavitt?" Leavitt jumped in and said: "Please, don't laugh" at that suggestion.
"He's an outstanding governor," said Dole. "In fact, I'm greatly impressed not just by the quantity of Republican governors (31 of 50), but by their quality. Gov. Leavitt has been picked as one of three Republican governors to help us" negotiate on Medicare and Medicaid reform, said Dole.
Dole added that Leavitt is no shrinking violet, that "we've had some tough telephone conversations" over what Republican governors want out of federal reform.
Leavitt has received some light criticism at home for his national agenda - working on federal issues and his push to have states regain some balance of power with the federal government.
Dole said Leavitt has made his mark on the national level. "I first started hearing about Mike Leavitt long before he ran for governor. (Former Sen.) Jake Garn told me to watch out for this young guy."
Dole is taken seriously by Utah's Republican elite. Leavitt, sounding more partisan than usual, said Dole had the solutions to take America in the right direction, and that only President Clinton was standing in the way of a balanced budget, welfare and Medicare reform.
Reports indicate Dole's fund-raiser at the Little America Hotelmay have been the largest single event of its kind in the state, with as much as $250,000 coming in for the GOP presidential hopeful.
Dole said he couldn't guarantee that the federal government won't suffer another partial shutdown. "But I don't favor" another shutdown. "We had a point to make (with the previous shutdowns), and we made it."
He also couldn't promise that there would be a federal budget deal with Clinton. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Dole don't plan to meet again with Clinton "unless he calls the meeting."